A lot of great players don't go to AO. The junior AO is always a notch below the other ones, and just filled with the players that can afford the tickets. It's too far and exhausting. Townsend just signed with Lagardere Unlimited, she has funding, I would think she is getting ready for the pro level which means a lot of changes for her personally, to her game, and her fitness, etc. Her career is not over.

A lot of great players don't go to AO. The junior AO is always a notch below the other ones, and just filled with the players that can afford the tickets. It's too far and exhausting. Townsend just signed with Lagardere Unlimited, she has funding, I would think she is getting ready for the pro level which means a lot of changes for her personally, to her game, and her fitness, etc. Her career is not over.

Click to expand...

The original idea was to play the SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN after qualifying in Georgia and a ticket to be paid by USTA.
I was NOT talking about playing the JUNIOR AO.
Now she will play two challengers in January.
Please see as well the quote from the link
--->
As AO junior champion she was offered a Wild Card to the slam senior qualifying. However, we learn from her Twitter conversation with Irina Khromatcheva, "I'm not going to go just for qualies.. It's too far and too expensive!" she posted at the end of November (whole conversation). It clearly indicates she won't be able to play, because she can count only on her own financial resources, and these are limited. Unlike junior world leaders from any other country in the world, the American tennis current biggest hope appears to be on her own. Townsend was not even invited for the USTA AO Wildcard play-off. Another communication problem?
---->Latest results

The original idea was to play the SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN after qualifying in Georgia and a ticket to be paid by USTA.
I was NOT talking about playing the JUNIOR AO.
Now she will play two challengers in January.
Please see as well the quote from the link
--->
As AO junior champion she was offered a Wild Card to the slam senior qualifying. However, we learn from her Twitter conversation with Irina Khromatcheva, "I'm not going to go just for qualies.. It's too far and too expensive!" she posted at the end of November (whole conversation). It clearly indicates she won't be able to play, because she can count only on her own financial resources, and these are limited. Unlike junior world leaders from any other country in the world, the American tennis current biggest hope appears to be on her own. Townsend was not even invited for the USTA AO Wildcard play-off. Another communication problem?
---->Latest results

"Also competing in the women’s field are former top-ranked Georgia Tech singles star Irina Falconi (22, Jupiter, Fla.), the one-time world No. 73 and Pan American Games gold medalist who reached the third round of the 2011 US Open; Mallory Burdette (21, Jackson, Ga.), the former Stanford standout who reached the third round of the 2012 US Open after winning a USTA Wild Card; Madison Keys (17, Rock Island, Ill.), last year’s Australian Open Wild Card Playoff winner who is the second-youngest player ranked in the WTA top 140 after winning a $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Phoenix this November; Maria Sanchez (23, Modesto, Calif.), once the top-ranked college singles player at Southern California who won a $50,000 and a $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in 2012 to boost her ranking more than 560 places since 2011; Alexa Glatch (21, Newport Beach, Calif.), who was the runner-up to current World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the 2005 US Open junior championship; Julia Cohen (23, Philadelphia), who broke through to the WTA top 100 in (No. 97) in July; and Alison Riske (22, Pittsburgh), who has played in the main draw of the Australian Open (2011-12) and Wimbledon (2010-11) twice."http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/sock...ine_australian_open_wild_card_playoffs_field/

USTA Player Development must have thought that the eight ladies invited to the playoff tournament are better than Taylor at this moment. But I am quite sure that Taylor would have a better chance of becoming a top 50 players in the world in a few years than several players who were invited to the playoff. Perhaps it's a good idea for USTA to spend a few thousands to allow and encourage Taylor to play the Australian Open qualification.

"Also competing in the women’s field are former top-ranked Georgia Tech singles star Irina Falconi (22, Jupiter, Fla.), the one-time world No. 73 and Pan American Games gold medalist who reached the third round of the 2011 US Open; Mallory Burdette (21, Jackson, Ga.), the former Stanford standout who reached the third round of the 2012 US Open after winning a USTA Wild Card; Madison Keys (17, Rock Island, Ill.), last year’s Australian Open Wild Card Playoff winner who is the second-youngest player ranked in the WTA top 140 after winning a $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Phoenix this November; Maria Sanchez (23, Modesto, Calif.), once the top-ranked college singles player at Southern California who won a $50,000 and a $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in 2012 to boost her ranking more than 560 places since 2011; Alexa Glatch (21, Newport Beach, Calif.), who was the runner-up to current World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the 2005 US Open junior championship; Julia Cohen (23, Philadelphia), who broke through to the WTA top 100 in (No. 97) in July; and Alison Riske (22, Pittsburgh), who has played in the main draw of the Australian Open (2011-12) and Wimbledon (2010-11) twice."http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/sock...ine_australian_open_wild_card_playoffs_field/

USTA Player Development must have thought that the eight ladies invited to the playoff tournament are better than Taylor at this moment. But I am quite sure that Taylor would have a better chance of becoming a top 50 players in the world in a few years than several players who were invited to the playoff. Perhaps it's a good idea for USTA to spend a few thousands to allow and encourage Taylor to play the Australian Open qualification.

Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure right now, but I think Taylor was initially invited, but maybe pulled out.

Steve Johnson and Jack Sock were on the original list for the guys, both both pulled out and were replaced.

I think Sanchez and Falconi were the two replacements on the girls' side, or the last two choices.

Edit: Ok, seems I was wrong. Doesnt look like Taylor was invited at all.

Just read this story on Taylor. I am blown away by the part where the author says an "elderly man was heckling her about her race and baby fat". I would love to have seen someone go up and bust him right in the nose!

Click to expand...

I really want hear if someone at least confronted the old man and had him removed. There's obviously no part for that needed, anywhere.

But I am quite sure that Taylor would have a better chance of becoming a top 50 players in the world in a few years than several players who were invited to the playoff.

Click to expand...

I would hope that Taylor Townsend is aiming for top 1 in the world, not top 50. To do that she has to get into fantastic shape. Though nothing is for sure, I think she could certainly be top 50 without improving a lot.

That's a painful read. It's very difficult to follow your writing. You should have someone proof and edit for you if you're going to cover tennis in English speaking countries.

But, how can you say "there is a chance her career is over"? She hasn't even played her first pro event. Is this statement purely based on skipping the Aussie? Heck, McEnroe skipped the Aussie a ton. You have a Phd?

Just read this story on Taylor. I am blown away by the part where the author says an "elderly man was heckling her about her race and baby fat". I would love to have seen someone go up and bust him right in the nose!

Just read this story on Taylor. I am blown away by the part where the author says an "elderly man was heckling her about her race and baby fat". I would love to have seen someone go up and bust him right in the nose!

Click to expand...

Yeah that pissed me off too. Dude should have been removed if this story is legit. Anybody heckling teenagers like that is a POS.

I would hope that Taylor Townsend is aiming for top 1 in the world, not top 50. To do that she has to get into fantastic shape. Though nothing is for sure, I think she could certainly be top 50 without improving a lot.

Click to expand...

Ana Konjuh, who will turn 15 in a day or two, mentioned after beating Taylor in 3 sets in the Orange Bowl semi that she noticed Taylor was tired in the 3rd set. Madison Keys is another young American who has been mentioned as the next Williams. Yes aiming #1 would surely motivate Taylor to train harder on and off the courts.

Ana Konjuh, who will turn 15 in a day or two, mentioned after beating Taylor in 3 sets in the Orange Bowl semi that she noticed Taylor was tired in the 3rd set. Madison Keys is another young American who has been mentioned as the next Williams. Yes aiming #1 would surely motivate Taylor to train harder on and off the courts.

Re Ana Konjuh; I have no empirical evidence but seriously doubt she is 14. I saw her play the Eddie Herr G14 doubles final in 2011 when she would have been 13. She served at 110, hit 80mph groundies and had quads bigger than mine. She stands 5' 10" has an unusually deep voice and I personally herd her tell the tournament director that she was thrilled to finally win, as this was her 6th time playing the Eddie Herr. Hmmmm... that would mean she was playing the 12s when she was 7? Not likely. More believable is that the Serbian Federation gave her a new passport with a brand new birth year. International competition is filled with players who falsify their age. At this year's Eddie Herr my daughter heard two boys in the registration line complaining about a player they know is 18, playing the 16s. Interestingly, one of the boys asked his friend why he's complaining when he does the same thing. His answer was that "everybody's doing it, so why not?" I know it's impossible to police foreign players, but there should be some system that compares past registrations against current, to see if anyone suddenly got younger. TDs are so confrontation averse they prefer to look the other way, and collect the fee.

Re Ana Konjuh; I have no empirical evidence but seriously doubt she is 14. I saw her play the Eddie Herr G14 doubles final in 2011 when she would have been 13. She served at 110, hit 80mph groundies and had quads bigger than mine. She stands 5' 10" has an unusually deep voice and I personally herd her tell the tournament director that she was thrilled to finally win, as this was her 6th time playing the Eddie Herr. Hmmmm... that would mean she was playing the 12s when she was 7? Not likely. More believable is that the Serbian Federation gave her a new passport with a brand new birth year. International competition is filled with players who falsify their age. At this year's Eddie Herr my daughter heard two boys in the registration line complaining about a player they know is 18, playing the 16s. Interestingly, one of the boys asked his friend why he's complaining when he does the same thing. His answer was that "everybody's doing it, so why not?" I know it's impossible to police foreign players, but there should be some system that compares past registrations against current, to see if anyone suddenly got younger. TDs are so confrontation averse they prefer to look the other way, and collect the fee.

Re Ana Konjuh; I have no empirical evidence but seriously doubt she is 14. I saw her play the Eddie Herr G14 doubles final in 2011 when she would have been 13. She served at 110, hit 80mph groundies and had quads bigger than mine. She stands 5' 10" has an unusually deep voice and I personally herd her tell the tournament director that she was thrilled to finally win, as this was her 6th time playing the Eddie Herr. Hmmmm... that would mean she was playing the 12s when she was 7? Not likely. More believable is that the Serbian Federation gave her a new passport with a brand new birth year. International competition is filled with players who falsify their age. At this year's Eddie Herr my daughter heard two boys in the registration line complaining about a player they know is 18, playing the 16s. Interestingly, one of the boys asked his friend why he's complaining when he does the same thing. His answer was that "everybody's doing it, so why not?" I know it's impossible to police foreign players, but there should be some system that compares past registrations against current, to see if anyone suddenly got younger. TDs are so confrontation averse they prefer to look the other way, and collect the fee.

Just read this story on Taylor. I am blown away by the part where the author says an "elderly man was heckling her about her race and baby fat". I would love to have seen someone go up and bust him right in the nose!

Click to expand...

Even in 2012, with Obama as our president, the sad fact is that there is
still quite a bit of racism in the U.S. It's a bit more veiled and less open
but definitely still there. Less so in the NE and west coast, though.

Also, ironic that the U.S. was a country created by illegal immigrants and
today there are still many people against immigration.

Even in 2012, with Obama as our president, the sad fact is that there is
still quite a bit of racism in the U.S. It's a bit more veiled and less open
but definitely still there. Less so in the NE and west coast, though.

Also, ironic that the U.S. was a country created by illegal immigrants and
today there are still many people against immigration.

Click to expand...

your last sentence there , if I recall right the USA was a territory that people immigrated to and once it became a country and established laws and borders then "ILLEGAL" immigration was and still is frowned upon .

Not sure if I have it right but didn't they have it set up at some island for people immigrating here legally would be there learn the language, learn the laws , the history ?

BTW i live in CA where I am watching illegal immigration destroy neighborhood after neighborhood and causing a lot of problems for our American citizens in our schools, hospital ,gangs ect. It has nothing to do with racism which your accusing me of because I would deport all of them today if I was President because the one we have and had have no backbone to do whats right !

your last sentence there , if I recall right the USA was a territory that people immigrated to and once it became a country and established laws and borders then "ILLEGAL" immigration was and still is frowned upon .

Click to expand...

It was a land that was already inhabited by various peoples (now referred to
as Native Americans.) It wasn't uninhabited lands. There were people already
here that had a rich culture. Same with the lands south of what is now the USA.

Even in 2012, with Obama as our president, the sad fact is that there is
still quite a bit of racism in the U.S. It's a bit more veiled and less open
but definitely still there. Less so in the NE and west coast, though.

Also, ironic that the U.S. was a country created by illegal immigrants and
today there are still many people against immigration.

Click to expand...

The claims or racism often heard in the media are often tactics coming from those trying to intimidate and discredit those who disagree with their position and has nothing to do with race. Many of these claims have little merit. Does racism remain? Sadly yes, but that is changing for the better all the time.

The U.S. was created by those who legally immigrated. Legal immigration is a process that is encouraged by the U.S. and those who come to this country legally are welcomed.

The claims or racism often heard in the media are often tactics coming from those trying to intimidate and discredit those who disagree with their position and has nothing to do with race. Many of these claims have little merit. Does racism remain? Sadly yes, but that is changing for the better all the time.

The U.S. was created by those who legally immigrated. Legal immigration is a process that is encouraged by the U.S. and those who come to this country legally are welcomed.

Click to expand...

My calling the initial European settlers
"illegal immigrants" isn't totally
correct, but the early Europeans who
came to the US didn't exactly check
with the Native Americans if it was
ok to take over the land, etc.
There were people living for a long
time in the part of North America
now known as the USA long before
the European setters came and formed
the US.

My calling the initial European settlers
"illegal immigrants" isn't totally
correct, but the early Europeans who
came to the US didn't exactly check
with the Native Americans if it was
ok to take over the land, etc.
There were people living for a long
time in the part of North America
now known as the USA long before
the European setters came and formed
the US.

Click to expand...

I've always found it ironic that kids in the US are taught that America was "discovered" by a European, when there were millions of people living here for hundreds of years before or more. Europeans came here to escape tyranny and became conquers to those who lived here. I'm American and love this country, but living in an international family gives a different perspective on many things, including history.

My calling the initial European settlers
"illegal immigrants" isn't totally
correct, but the early Europeans who
came to the US didn't exactly check
with the Native Americans if it was
ok to take over the land, etc.
There were people living for a long
time in the part of North America
now known as the USA long before
the European setters came and formed
the US.

Click to expand...

Canada falls into the same category but no one mentions them. Same can be said of many countries around the world. But, it's always a favorite to pick on the U.S.

My calling the initial European settlers
"illegal immigrants" isn't totally
correct, but the early Europeans who
came to the US didn't exactly check
with the Native Americans if it was
ok to take over the land, etc.
There were people living for a long
time in the part of North America
now known as the USA long before
the European setters came and formed
the US.

Click to expand...

"Not totally correct" is apparently a euphemism for "total nonsense."

But two can play this game. Let's call the colonists "immigrants" and then ask: How did massive immigration work out for the Native Americans? How well has it worked out for any group that allowed a huge influx of foreigners to eventually outnumber them? Any historical examples of how well that worked out?

Out of the many many many tribes of Indians here in Anerica who was in charge and which tribe sold NY to those who settled their ? America has and ugly past because there were people here that would take your scalp off for pleasure and war depending on their mood and I am ok with that " your land do what you want" but also be prepared to be overtaken which is ugly too !

But two can play this game. Let's call the colonists "immigrants" and then ask: How did massive immigration work out for the Native Americans? How well has it worked out for any group that allowed a huge influx of foreigners to eventually outnumber them? Any historical examples of how well that worked out?

Click to expand...

Legal immigration is controlled and is not easy. It is a lengthy process and still not guaranteed for anyone/everyone. Influx of population through illegal immigration that is not controlled and has no accountability to meet is a different story.

Out of the many many many tribes of Indians here in Anerica who was in charge and which tribe sold NY to those who settled their ? America has and ugly past because there were people here that would take your scalp off for pleasure and war depending on their mood and I am ok with that " your land do what you want" but also be prepared to be overtaken which is ugly too !

Click to expand...

Imagine someone "discovered" your house and decided to move on in. Wouldn't you defend it? A little different than being in a "mood".

But two can play this game. Let's call the colonists "immigrants" and then ask: How did massive immigration work out for the Native Americans? How well has it worked out for any group that allowed a huge influx of foreigners to eventually outnumber them? Any historical examples of how well that worked out?

Click to expand...

Great posts ClarkC, thanks for the late night chuckles. Always on your toes.

Re Ana Konjuh; I have no empirical evidence but seriously doubt she is 14. I saw her play the Eddie Herr G14 doubles final in 2011 when she would have been 13. She served at 110, hit 80mph groundies and had quads bigger than mine. She stands 5' 10" has an unusually deep voice and I personally herd her tell the tournament director that she was thrilled to finally win, as this was her 6th time playing the Eddie Herr. Hmmmm... that would mean she was playing the 12s when she was 7? Not likely. More believable is that the Serbian Federation gave her a new passport with a brand new birth year. International competition is filled with players who falsify their age. At this year's Eddie Herr my daughter heard two boys in the registration line complaining about a player they know is 18, playing the 16s. Interestingly, one of the boys asked his friend why he's complaining when he does the same thing. His answer was that "everybody's doing it, so why not?" I know it's impossible to police foreign players, but there should be some system that compares past registrations against current, to see if anyone suddenly got younger. TDs are so confrontation averse they prefer to look the other way, and collect the fee.

Click to expand...

My player at 15 was already standing 6'3 and hitting the crap out of the ball now at 16 he is 6'5 ,so this girl could be what she is . girls mature fast and if they are working her as I do my player I dont find it hard to believe .

Imagine someone "discovered" your house and decided to move on in. Wouldn't you defend it? A little different than being in a "mood".

Click to expand...

That's the movie "Pacific Heights." A scary movie actually.

As far as the immigration stuff, people in these comfortable times keep trying to put our values, morals, mores, and customs on people in past centuries. You have no knowledge without knowing the context of the times.

I don't know this girl, Ana Konjuh, but I do know that a friend of mine who is Croatian, has a daughter who is 5'10" and 15 years old, just turned. Her husband is not over 5'10"(American Italian) and mom is a bit shorter. People from the region of Dinaric Alps are among the tallest in the world, and that region covers part of Croatia. Apart from that according to Wiki Croats are among the tallest nations in the world. Let's assume she is done with puberty, very likely as she is almost 15, I would say her height she not out of ordinary for her region. Is Taylor 5'6" really? Looks taller in pics. Where does this Ana train? I find it interesting that both boys are girls OB 18s winners are from former Yugoslavia but do they train at home? Where does that kid that won boys OB train? Does anybody know?